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How it all came about

Blick was formed in 2007 by a group of young creatives who wanted to come together to create a great workspace for creatives in Belfast. Our ambition was to create beautiful but affordable spaces for creatives to work in. Spaces for like-minded creatives to meet and share resources, ideas and inspiration. Spaces to build a sense of community and encourage, support and inspire each other. As the idea grew and evolved, Christine took over managing Blick while others in the group focused on their own creative businesses. Christine’s sister Rosy came on board as a volunteer initially to manage the financial side of the organisation. Together they have been managing Blick since 2007.

Blick provides fully serviced shared workspace and private studio space to more than 65 creatives across 3 different locations within Belfast in Northern Ireland. Blick also provides virtual office services, meeting and event spaces and runs different events, workshops and projects to help build community and support creatives in Belfast.

You can see more of our story below and find our more about our aims & values, our impact and our projects.

Currently

We have been working hard to rebuild following the pandemic and have updated the studios. We have some lovely new photos and have refreshed our website with new useful content for creatives in Belfast. In collaboration with Creating A Space, we recently created Our Time is Now, a video podcast series sharing the stories of 5 Belfast Creatives. You can find out more abour Our Time is Now below.

We are working with Belfast Design Week and VentureFolk on a new project combining design and growing to explore the potential for supporting residents to grow their own food within the urban environments of Botanic and the Holylands in Belfast.

We have also planned a new program of Summer events and workshops for Belfast creatives. We have exciting things planned for the future and are looking forward to continuing our different creative adventures and projects and supporting creatives in Belfast.

 

Our Time is Now
Esther Mogada and Macy Stewart Our Time is Now Video Podcast
2021

In 2021 we finished our Womenfolk Dig Deep Programme supporting 27 young creative women on their journey to start their own creative businesses with weekly resources including 10 industry expert videos on topics including A DIY Guide on Creating Your Own Brand, A DIY Guide on Setting up a Website A DIY Guide on Instagram and A DIY Guide on Photographing Your Work for the broader creative community.

We also worked with Belfast Design Week to launch My Block, a directory to celebrate and champion independent business and culture in Northern Ireland.

Womenfolk Dig Deep Participant Sarah Cathers
2020

In 2020 the Covid-19 pandemic closed our studios for three months. It also gave us the opportunity to run a creative enterprise programme for young women called Dig Deep which supported 27 young women over a 9-month period to start their own creative businesses.

We hosted a podcast series on the impact of the pandemic on creatives and also expanded our Popup Design Museum during Belfast Design Week. Exhibiting design work by local designers in the windows of independent venues throughout Belfast City Centre to create an interactive but covid safe activity for the public.

Belfast Design Week Billboard
2018

In 2018 we launched our sister company, creative consultancy Flock, to bring together the creatives involved with Blick to work on different multidisciplinary creative projects.

Flock Creative Consulting
2017

In 2017 we set up a new venture called Womenfolk to celebrate and promote women creative entrepreneurs.

We were excited to be involved again with Belfast Design Week in its 3rd year & new design events such as Late Night Design.

We moved from 52 Hill Street to Cotton Court in the Cathedral Quarter – a building full of creative companies.

2016

Supporting more creatives

Increased income from growing our organisation gave us the opportunity to expand the free support we provide for creative entrepreneurs, including:

  • Blick Academy for Creative Startups
  • Share 6 inspirational talks for creative entrepreneurs
  • 25 Pop-Up
  • The Faculty workshops and courses
  • Creative Business Bootcamp
  • Belfast Design Week
  • Graduate residency programme
Networking Event for Creatives
2015

Growing more

We opened Eighty81 Creative Workspace in Derry-Londonderry, providing workspace for 18 businesses as well as the Nest incubation program, creative events and support.

In Belfast, there was a growing market for our services, so we opened a second set of premises in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter, providing workspace for an additional 18 businesses.

2015 was the year of Irish Design, and we secured funding to run a variety of design events and co-founded Belfast Design Week.

2015 Belfast Design Week Launch
2014

Expanding to the North West

We secured a 3-year contract to manage the creative hub in Ebrington in Derry/Londonderry to provide incubation space, workspace and events and support for the creative industries within the city.

We developed the brand and concept for Eighty81 Creative Workspace on behalf of Ilex Urban Regeneration.

Eighty81 Creative Workspace Ebrington
2012

Growing Blick

We moved into our first Cathedral Quarter premises allowing us to provide space for an additional 15 businesses.

With the premises being so close to Ulster University, we were able to connect more with students and startups and build our existing creative community through meetups and events.

Blick Shared Studios Hill Street
2010

Creative events

From 2008 – 2010 we ran a variety of events and courses to support small and startup creative businesses within Belfast, including Blick Business Blitz and the Evolve Programme.

We saw a need to create more interactive and engaging enterprise events and set up Creative Camp Belfast – an interactive un-conference style event designed to connect local creative entrepreneurs and encourage them to share their stories and speak on various topics.

Networking event for creatives at the Black Box Belfast
2008

Moving into Malone

With support from Ulster University and Belfast City Council we moved into our first permanent space at 51 Malone Road.

We focused on becoming independently sustainable by renting our studio spaces, event spaces and offering virtual services. By the end of 2008, we provided space to 15 different creative businesses.

Blick Shared Studios Malone Road
2007

By Creatives, for Creatives

Blick was set up by a group of creative entrepreneurs struggling to find suitable creative studio space in Belfast.

Our first studio was a rented warehouse in the City Centre which we set up with the help of £5,000 from UnLtd.

Plant in Blick Shared Studios Hill Street

Stay in the

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This week we have been thrilled to have been able to help with @belfastdesignwk  and @the_design_salon 's Sustainable Pop-up Design Museum as part of the RE(act) Festival by the @linenquarter in the Europa Hotel today and tomorrow!

If you are attending any events at the festival or just passing by you can pop by to take a look at the Pop-up Design Museum on the 2nd floor!

The Pop-up Design Museum feature 5 local designers incorporating sustainability into their work

- Sam Lynas Co-founder of @get.haru @helpandreuse a tech startup focused on circular fashion

- Azhar Murtuza Founder of @born_maverick a food innovation company

- Stéphanie Heckman @stephaniesaloli a graphic recorder and visual facilitator focusing on working on climate and sustainability events

- Lee Robb founder of Positive Carrickfergus and Co-founder of Carrick Greengrocers @carrickgrocers

- Emily McIlwaine @emtextiles Woven Designer and Horticulturalist

You can also read fab interviews with each of them on sustainability and their design practice over on the Belfast Design Week Website www.belfastdesignweek.com
We are so excited through our @the_design_salon collab as part of the �@linenquarter 's �RE[act] Festival 2024 to have Learning Experience Designer Peter Worth join us for a workshop on November 13th, 3-4.30pm in the Europa Hotel.

Peter works at the intersection of design thinking, professional learning, leadership, and culture change. Consulting globally and based in Northern Ireland, Peter’s work focuses on helping teams to elevate local brilliance and use the mindsets of human-centred design to create change so their users can thrive. In recent years, he has worked closely with the Stanford d.school and Catalyst.

Informed by his background in education, Peter has developed a design practice that balances analytical and creative problem-solving. His belief that great progress can be made by taking the time to listen first has positioned him to guide people through their initial discomfort with design to discover skills they did not know they had and to help educators recognize their power in the transformation of schools as a part of a larger story of impact. In addition, Peter works with K12 schools, universities, businesses, and non-profit organizations to promote local innovation.

Spaces are limited so find out more and grab your free ticket on the events page on our website (link in profile)!
Pollen Studios + Gallery is pleased to announce the opening of “Palette Perspectives” by Blick resident Emanuela Mae Agrini @emanuela_mae_agrini_art

The event will take place on November 7, 2024, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, at Pollen’s gallery space located at 7 North Street, Belfast. As part of the Belfast Late Night Art event, this evening will showcase a collection of portrait paintings and fashion illustrations, exploring creativity and individual expression through various subjects and styles.
Another chance to check out the interview we did with Stephanie @stephaniesaloli who is sharing her story at our next Creative Talk on Wednesday evening!

Sign up on our website to hear her story in-person!
Just 1 week until our next creative talk with Blick Hill St resident Stephanie Heckman sharing her creative story as a graphic recorder and visual facilitator who translates real-time conversations into hand-drawn visual summaries at events and conferences globally including UN climate change negotiations!

Book your free ticket through our website (link in profile)
As part of our work with @the_design_salon  we have been helping to curate the 3rd Pop Up Design Museum on the 12th & 13th November at The Europa Hotel as part of the RE[act] Festival @linenquarter this November 12th-14th to create a more sustainable Belfast. 

The Pop Up Design Museum will themed on "Sustainability." You'll learn about 5 local designers incorporating sustainability in different ways into their practices and we hope you'll leave inspired and full of ideas for your own life and work.

We also have a very special workshop - "Design thinking (and doing) for sustainability" - with Learning Experience Designer Peter Worth.

We'll be sharing more information about the pop up museum and workshop in the lead up to RE[act] and you can visit reactfestival.co.uk to discover the full programme of events.

#reactfestival2024

https://blickstudios.org/projects/pop-up-design-museum/
First in person meeting in our Great Northern Street Studios with our fab Nurture Program participants @kitschsistersbelfast @bethanysmillican and @verahylands who we will introduce you to properly over the coming weeks! Looking forward to working with them all on their creative ideas over the next 8 months!
Just over a week until our next creative talk with Blick Hill St resident Stéphanie Heckman a graphic recorder and visual facilitator sharing her story!

Stephanie will be sharing her journey as a creative entrepreneur and how she came to do the work she does. She will share the highs and lows of her journey and what she has learned along the way. She will also share her advice for others on a similar path and for artists and creatives on how to generate an income from their creativity. Stephanie will also share with us some examples of her work including her work for UN Climate Change negotiations.

Event Date(s): November 6, 2024
Event Time: 7.00 - 8.00pm
Location: Blick Shared Studios, 46 Hill Street, Belfast, BT1 2LB
Cost: Free

For more info and to sign up, visit our website (link in profile)
Our next creative talk is on Wed 6th November at 7pm in our Hill St studios with graphic recorder and visual facilitator Stéphanie Heckman sharing her story.

Stephanie will talk about how she set up her creative business. Her journey so far as a creative entrepreneur, the highs and lows, what she has learned along the way, advice for others on a similar path and for artists and creatives in general on how to generate an income from their creativity.

There's more info about Stéphanie below!

Stéphanie Heckman 
Graphic Recorder & Visual Facilitator

Stéphanie Heckman, Dutch originally but based in Northern Ireland, works internationally at conferences as a graphic recorder and visual facilitator. In this role she translates in real-time collective conversations into hand-drawn visual summaries that distill the essence of both content and undercurrent. Her visual summaries transcend language and accessibility barriers, and communicate key takeaways of complex discussions in an engaging, visual way to a much larger audience than those originally present.

Active since 2018, Stéphanie has worked with close to 200 organisations, but focuses on supporting those advancing climate action, peace and reconciliation and leadership development. Since 2020, she collaborates regularly with UN Climate Change and numerous NGOs in the global climate space. She has trail blazed a way for the field of graphic recording to support climate negotiations at the highest level and has led teams of graphic recorders to cover sessions during three consecutive COPs (annual UN climate summits) and related events. In recent years she has trained up two cohorts of graphic recorders through her Visual Practice Apprenticeship Programme, focusing both on the craft of visual practice and business skills as a creative professional.
https://www.stephanieheckman.com/

EVENT DETAILS
DATE: Wed 6th Nov
TIME: 7PM
VENUE: Blick Studios, 46 Hill Street

You can book your free ticket on our website (link in profile)
It's the start of a new month and we are super excited to kick start the month by announcing our next Creative Talk which will be as part of our new Nurture Program with a local creative sharing their story. Speaker details coming soon!

Sign up now via the link in our profile for your free ticket! ✨️ 🌟